MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur— Agricultural tools, supplies, and equipment were distributed to 45 farmers’ cooperatives and five associations in the BARMM as part of the regional government’s assistance to improve their economic activities.

Project TABANG or the ‘Tulong Alay sa Bangsamorong Nangangailangan’ of the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) distributed the supplies to the farmer-recipients in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte on Jan. 10 – 12, while those in the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte received theirs on Jan. 5 – 6.

The beneficiaries were from the towns of Butig, Piagapo, Masiu, Ganassi, Mulondo, Malabang, Madaya, and Bubong in Lanao, and Upi, Datu Blah Sinsuat, and Datu Odin Sinsuat, Mamasapano, Datu Paglas, Shariff Saydona, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Shariff Aguak, Pagalungan, and General Salipada K. Pendatun in Maguindanao.

Among the distributed supplies were rice, corn, and vegetable seeds, knapsack sprayer, herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, foliar, fertilizers, farming boots, hats, and plow. The distribution was conducted through Project TABANG’s livelihood program dubbed Oplan Bangsamoro Rapid Assistance.

According to TABANG Livelihood Unit Head Mohamad Asnur Pendatun, OBRA aims to “provide long-term interventions in the Bangsamoro communities and assistance to the Bangsamoro people who are in need, and to mitigate the adverse economic impact of the state of the calamity to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He further said that the program prioritizes helping farmers, fisherfolks, and other vulnerable sectors in the region. (BIO with reports from Project TABANG/PIA Lanao del Sur)